Celebration

Yet through all that beauty, there was always the disturbing reminder of the price. And the fear that lurked, that terrible, paralysing fear of betrayal and death. One wrong step could send even the most innocent person spiralling downwards, turned into a plaything for the evil ones.

Nic awoke as the shimmering lights danced across her eyes. It was to be another long day in the city of so many wonders, and so many sorrows. She sighed, and then gasped as the last fragments of a dream were suddenly remembered. She had seen things, undefinable images that she couldn't quite capture, but it had been so important...to dream, to dream of the future. Which Nic often did. She came from a line of strong dreamers, those who could see things throughout time, and Nic half-closed her eyes again, struggling to remember. She had seen someone - one who was very important to the fate of the entire galaxy.

And a change was coming. Suddenly, Nic knew that, surer than she knew her own name. On this day, one day out of a thousand ordinary days, something was going to happen.

Things had been a little better recently. For almost a week, *he* had been gone. Nothing was said, of course, but somehow,everyone knew. When *he* wasn't here, the storms did not rise as often, nor did the nights seem as black. People smiled and traces of real happiness could light up their eyes, and they weren't so afraid of being caught.

Not that it was illegal to smile. It was just that suspicion ran rampant throughout every tiny crack and crevice of the great structures that extended deep into the planet's core.

And then there was the depression. No one quite knew how it worked, but somehow, a dark energy seeped from the great fortress that was *his* home and managed to subdue any joy in the people living across the planet.

Nic shivered, thinking of the castle. And of the statue - the statue was even worse. She would swear that it was looking at her sometimes, and could feel the power of those evil eyes. The power that could bend minds to do *his* will.

If only, wished Nic, if only the people would band together. They could overcome the oppression, and Nic had heard that even the troops weren't that strong. There were rumours of a rebellion, whispers that the evil could be defeated if only they would try.

But that was never going to happen here, on Coruscant, the homeworld of the Galactic Empire that threatened to destroy them all.

Nic went through the motions of getting ready for work. Dressing herself in the standard uniform, she proceeded to the trade centre for hours of processing tourist datacards. She hated her job, but reasoned to herself that it was only temporary. Someday, she would be accepted into the Galactic Exploration Guild and truly fulfil her destiny - to learn what lay beyond the edge of the galaxy.

Yet those days seemed as if they would never come.

Nic wearily reached the end of her shift. There was a tingling throughout her body. Something was about to happen, something big... She stepped out into the sunlight and sharply drew in a breath. There was a scream - not corporeal, but a psychic scream that echoed across the cosmos into the core of every sentient being.

She clutched her head. Everywhere, across the planet, across the entire universe, people were doing the same thing. Emotions were running high - the confusion, the emptiness, and for many, there was the absolute terror of realising that society as all knew it was about to crumble.

The universe itself *shifted*. And in mere moments, everything had changed.

The evening sunlight somehow grew more brilliant. Instead of a sadness-tinged red of blood and tears, the light was more yellow, more full of promise. People stood taller, turning their faces to the sky. There was an apprehension in the air, and everything paused. They were waiting...waiting...because they all *knew* that something major had occurred.

Even a squadron of Stormtroopers, so often immovable from their duty, had stopped. Everything stopped. Until the first cries of disbelief, or of joy, began to transmit across the infinite boundaries of space and reached Coruscant.

"The Emperor's dead!"

Nic gasped. She *knew* it was true, for she could feel it. Around her, their very society was crumbling. People began to surge onto the streets as the news spread, faster and faster, more information coming to them all the time.

"The Emperor is dead!" "Darth Vader is dead!" "The Death Star was destroyed!"

Another Death Star? Nic shivered, but a smile reached the corners of her mouth. That meant - that the Rebel Alliance had won!

"The Emperor is gone!" heralded another cry from the street. Laughing, Nic joined the growing crowd as people poured from every building, emerged from every tunnel, and became part of one huge party celebrating the return of the light.

*He* was dead.

Those in powerful positions could no longer keep control. Fear spread throughout those who were allied with the dark side, and the others were finally set free. For many years the Emperor's malevolent presence had cast a shadow over all of Coruscant. His very essence had penetrated the souls of each person, allowing him to keep command through a form of mind control.

But he was gone, and so was his power. Thousands of once-loyal Imperial troops ran, some far away from the sunlight in fear, but most others outside to join the celebration.

Nic laughed exuberantly. Songs were being played now, and people were singing. There were screams of joy and happiness echoing through every street of every level of the great megalopolis that covered Coruscant, and Nic allowed the laughter to carry her along.

She passed Monument Square, and noticed the stark bald rock was still being respected even at this time. She passed the Emperor's palace, and shivered. She came to the statue.

By now, streamers and confetti were everywhere. It was a celebration of gargantuan proportions, and even fireworks decorated the sky. Someone grabbed Nic and hugged her joyfully, another pulled her in the direction of a strange, jubilant dance.

Only one shadow loomed over everything. The last vestige of the Emperor, his legacy, the statue.

And in the craziness of the moment, Nic shouted, "Let's pull it down!"

Almost instantaneously, ropes and chains appeared and were lassoed around the statue's head. "Heave!" the cry went up. And they did - thousands of people banding together to destroy all traces of the Emperor. Some did it out of hatred. Some did it merely for the moment. And there were others, like Nic, who participated with a sense of euphoria and completion.

The oppression was over. And as the statue finally toppled, it seemed as if all of Coruscant, and the galaxy, was singing one song of joy and hope and peace as they danced to the new tune of freedom.

It was a celebration.

Half a galaxy away, on the forest moon of Endor, Luke Skywalker joined his friends, listening to the songs of the Ewoks and feeling safe, and loved. He was a part of them. And a part of his father was now with him.

He closed his eyes, thinking of all the places he had been, of everything that had happened since he joined Obi-Wan merely three years ago. Mos Eisley, Hoth, Dagobah and Cloud City...he'd seen so much!

And then a new picture came to him - of Coruscant - and a young woman who was dancing in celebration. He could see her throwing back her head in laughter, and happiness danced in her soulful eyes. For a moment, they were connected...

And then the music of life swept them both along into their respective worlds once again.

Yet still, the entire galaxy *was* one in celebration.